Youth hostel to be built in Cirencester theatre building

PLANS to transform a Cirencester building into one of the first hostels of its kind in the country have been given the green light.

Cirencester art group New Brewery Arts (NBA) wish to transform its Niccol Centre building on Cricklade Street into a hostel that can accommodate up to 49 persons with communal cooking and dining areas.

The proposals for the building, which is currently used as a 70 seat theatre and workshop space were passed at the CDC planning meeting last week.

Ali Russel, of NBA said in a supporting statement at the meeting: “Being in the centre of the town, visitors will be attracted to use the nearby shops.

“By the offer of new accommodation we will be able to attract tourists and students from all over the world.”

Joe Harris, of the planning committee and Major of Cirencester, said at the meeting that it was an exciting application and he hoped that the planning committee supported it.

As part of the plans the NBA wish to construct a gabled two-storey porch that has fully glazed frameless ground floor.

The first floor of the building will be made out of timber in an effort to reflect a warehouse loading bay.

There will also be openings to provide rooflights and window openings for the upper part of the building.

Under the conditions of the plans development of the building must start within three years.

The building is originally a 19th century stone-built construction and was originally a warehouse that had links with the Vaux Brewery which formerly owned the building before NBA.

The building has been registered as an asset of community value in 2013 under the Localism Act Regulations 2011 which mean its use has to further the social wellbeing or interest of the local community.

The decision was not unanimous, I am very concerned at the continued drip drip drip loss of performance venues for local talent. Where will the next Acker Bilk or Wurzels come from if we lose all our small theatres?

The decision was not unanimous, I am very concerned at the continued drip drip drip loss of performance venues for local talent. Where will the next Acker Bilk or Wurzels come from if we lose all our small theatres?David Broad

Not sure what it is about "a hostel that can accommodate up to 49 persons with communal cooking and dining areas" that would make it "one of the first hostels of its kind in the country" - that sounds like a perfectly normal youth hostel to me.

Also - with all due deference to the attractions of Cirencester and its shops - is there really enough business to support it? YHA have just announced the closure of a similarly sized hostel up the road in Stow on the Wold, and that seems like more of a tourist hot spot.

I wish NBA good fortune with this scheme, but personally, if I lived in Cirencester, I think I'd rather have a theatre.

Not sure what it is about "a hostel that can accommodate up to 49 persons with communal cooking and dining areas" that would make it "one of the first hostels of its kind in the country" - that sounds like a perfectly normal youth hostel to me.
Also - with all due deference to the attractions of Cirencester and its shops - is there really enough business to support it? YHA have just announced the closure of a similarly sized hostel up the road in Stow on the Wold, and that seems like more of a tourist hot spot.
I wish NBA good fortune with this scheme, but personally, if I lived in Cirencester, I think I'd rather have a theatre.Kiffer

Wow. A youth hostel next to the new cinema, next to a rampaging pack of Aggie students flats. Town centre will be like the Bronx every night.

Well done CDC.

Thankfully the Major lives just round the corner so he may well be in the firing line each night.

Wow. A youth hostel next to the new cinema, next to a rampaging pack of Aggie students flats. Town centre will be like the Bronx every night.
Well done CDC.
Thankfully the Major lives just round the corner so he may well be in the firing line each night.Bert Wilkins

Mmm a bit of typo here, as i think you will find that Joe Harris is the Cirencester "Mayor", rather than a "Major".

It is also a shame perhaps that Cirencester is going to lose a theatre and only gain a hostel, as i am not really sure that represents progress

Mmm a bit of typo here, as i think you will find that Joe Harris is the Cirencester "Mayor", rather than a "Major".
It is also a shame perhaps that Cirencester is going to lose a theatre and only gain a hostel, as i am not really sure that represents progressGeoff66